Camp General Artemio G Ricarte, Puerto Princesa City – Western Command celebrates its 42 years of service in a simple ceremony with the Chief of Staff Armed Forces of the Philippines, GENERAL REY LEONARDO B GUERRERO AFP as the Guest of Honor and Speaker, held today, 15 March 2018.

With the theme “Kaagapay sa Katahimikan at Kaunlaran ng Palawan at ng buong Sambayanan”, Western Command headed by LIEUTENANT GENERAL ROZZANO D BRIGUEZ AFP reports the accomplishments and lays down the future plans and programs.

As part of the celebration, a series of pre-anniversary activities were organized and conducted in the city and the province. Some of which were the following: Mangrove Tree Planting on 14 February in Sitio Barimbing, Brgy. San Manuel; Medical and Dental Mission on 24 & 25 February in Rizal and Brooke’s Point, Palawan; 2018 Western Command Student Art Competition on 05 March; Bloodletting Activity on 08 March; 2nd Palawan Inter-school Debate Championship on 09-11 March; and, Gift Giving Activity on 14 March in Brooke’s Point, Palawan.

This year’s celebration is also an opportunity to value and give recognition to commendable WESCOM personnel and its stakeholders for their significant contributions in the over-all mission accomplishment of the Command, to wit:•Captain CHERRYL P TINDOG PN(M) as Officer of the Year •Technical Sergeant Gilmot M Laranjo PAF as Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year•Ms Glory Ann P Laurel as Civilian Employee of the Year•CAA Donito N Ribo PA as CAFGU Active Auxilliary of the Year•Lieutenant Colonel SONNY E GONZALES PA as Distinguished Service Medal Awardee•Lieutenant JOSE OLIVERUS L SEPE (CHS) PN as Distinguished Service Medal Awardee•Technical Sergeant Anthony A Corpuz PA as Silver Cross Medal Awardee•1st Lieutenant MARIA CRISTINA C DE VERA PAF (RES) as Military Merit Medal Awardee•Master Sergeant Manuel B Autencio Jr PA as Military Merit Medal Awardee•Corporal Dexter A Espineli PAF as Kalayaan Island Group Campaign Medal and Ribbon (Bantay-Lahi) with Silver Fortress Awardee•Corporal Romero D Coronado PN(M) as Kalayaan Island Group Campaign Medal and Ribbon (Bantay-Lahi) with Gold Fortress Awardee•44th Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 4 as Combat Company of the Year •Headquarters and Service Coy, Marine Battalion Landing Team 4 as Combat Service Support of the Year•BRP ANDRES BONIFACIO (FF17) as Ship of the Year •N-22 NOMAD as Aircraft of the Year•Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corps and Church of Latter Day Saints as Kapayapaan Awardees

“As we chart the years ahead, rest assured that the Western Command will continue to be inspired and motivated by the support of our peace partners and the Filipino people. We will continue to be resilient and dependable as we are determined to keep the fire burning in our hearts to reaffirm our selfless devotion to duty and brave sacrifices for our great nation and its people,” said LTGEN BRIGUEZ.

The Joint Task Group Puerto Princesa (JTGPP) is under the operational control of Joint Task Force Peacock, WESCOM's ground component in its Joint Area of Operations. Under the leadership of its newly appointed Commander, LTCOL DANTE ROBERT B GRASPARIL PN(M), JTGPP is in charge of the conduct of Internal Peace and Security Operations in Puerto Princesa City, complementing the security efforts of Joint Task Groups North and South, thereby covering the entire Province of Palawan.

The JTGPP shall conduct urban security operations and shall support different law enforcement agencies within Puerto Princesa City. It shall conduct mobile and foot patrols in commercial centers, people's point of convergence and other vital installations and facilities in the city. It shall also provide security coverage to the airport, seaport, wharfs and other point of entry thru waterways. It shall also conduct random riverine checkpoints and security patrols to deny entry to lawless elements.

"The City of Puerto Princesa is grateful for the activation of the Joint Task Group Puerto Princesa because of the security it will provide to our constituents. It gives us the assurance that the City is safe for all local residents and tourists," said Mayor Bayron.

"Rest assured that through Joint Task Group Puerto Princesa, your Team WESCOM shall secure Puerto Princesa and keep its people safe," said LTGEN Briguez.

Camp General Artemio Ricarte, Puerto Princesa City — The Western Command hosts for the first time an inter-school debate and art competitions in celebration of its 42nd founding anniversary.

STUDENT ART COMPETITION

Based on the theme, “WESCOM @42: One with the Community in Sustaining the Peace and Prosperity in the Last Frontier”, High School and College students from the different schools in the province shall compete for the much coveted 1st Prize award which will be featured as cover of the Tandikan Magazine, the official publication of Western Command.

Aside from that, the winning entries will receive cash prizes and trophies as follows:

The said competition gives our young artists the opportunity to express their ideas on the role of their Armed Forces and the community in achieving lasting peace and prosperity in Palawan. It also aims to inspire our youth to love our country and be contributors to positive change in the community.

All entries will be showcased in various exhibits to be organized by WESCOM. Announcement of winners will be on March 11, 2018 at the VJR Hall, Provincial Capitol Complex, Puerto Princesa City.

Entries may be submitted to the office of the Civil Military Operations WESCOM not later than 5PM on March 5, 2018. Entry forms and mechanics may be downloaded from facebook.com/wescom. For inquiries, interested parties may contact 0920-2729521.

2ND PALAWAN INTER-SCHOOL DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Dubbed as “I Am For Peace”, the Western Command will host the 2nd Palawan Inter-School Debate Championship, in partnership with the Palawan State University Law School Student Government. The elimination rounds will be held on March 9 and 10, 2018 at the PSU Main Campus, while the grand finals will be held on March 11, 2018 at the VJR Hall, Provincial Capitol Complex, all in Puerto Princesa City.

The said debate competition is open to Senior High School and College students all over the province of Palawan. Each team is composed of three members. Participating schools may send up to three (3) teams. The competition will follow the Asian Parliamentary procedure and shall debate on issues on internal security, the West Philippine Sea and other peace and development topics.

The winning teams will receive cash prizes, medals and trophies as follows:

The debate championship shall provide our young minds the venue for oral discussion of issues concerning peace and its preservation through shared responsibility between the Armed Forces and the civilian community. It also aims at instilling patriotism and nationalism in the hearts and minds of the participants.

Aside from the debate competition, the grand finals shall also stage a Peace Advocacy Concert featuring the WESCOM Band and the Palawan Dance Ensemble.

Interested parties may confirm their participation not later than March 8, 2018 through 0975-1152346. Registration forms may be downloaded at facebook.com/pisdc2016.

In celebration of its 42nd Founding Anniversary, #TeamWESCOM, in partnership with Lingkod Timog Foundation, conducted medical and dental outreach mission in Rizal and Salogon, Brooke's Point, Palawan on 24 and 25 February 2018, respectively.

Over 1,200 patients received general check-ups and dental care. They were given medicines and other medical needs. They also received packed goods and slippers.The mission catered a significant aid to address the medical concerns of the community.

"On our 42nd birthday as a Unified Command, we would like to give our fellow Palaweños the gift of health, as an expression of our commitment of helping them," said LTGEN ROZZANO D BRIGUEZ AFP, Commander of WESCOM.